Revelation 9:19

Translation
King James Version
For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.
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KJV (with Strong's)
For G1063 their G846 power G1849 is G1526 G2076 in G1722 their G846 mouth G4750, and G2532 in G1722 their G846 tails G3769: for G1063 their G846 tails G3769 were like G3664 unto serpents G3789, and had G2192 heads G2776, and G2532 with G1722 them G846 they do hurt G91.
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Complete Jewish Bible
For the power of the horses was in their mouths — and also in their tails, for their tails were like snakes with heads, and with them they could cause injury.
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Berean Standard Bible
For the power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; indeed, their tails were like snakes, having heads with which to inflict harm.
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American Standard Version
For the power of the horses is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails are like unto serpents, and have heads; and with them they hurt.
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World English Bible Messianic
For the power of the horses is in their mouths, and in their tails. For their tails are like serpents, and have heads, and with them they harm.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
For their power is in their mouths, and in their tailes: for their tailes were like vnto serpents, and had heades, wherewith they hurt.
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Young's Literal Translation
for their authorities are in their mouth, and in their tails, for their tails are like serpents, having heads, and with them they do injure;
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See also
Isaiah 9:15Revelation 9:10Ephesians 4:14
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In the KJVVerse 30,860 of 31,102

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SUMMARY

Revelation 9:19 vividly describes the destructive capabilities of the demonic horsemen unleashed during the Sixth Trumpet judgment. This verse specifies that their power to inflict harm originates from two distinct sources: their mouths, from which fire, smoke, and brimstone issue (as detailed in the preceding verses), and their tails, which are likened to venomous serpents possessing heads, used to inflict further injury. The imagery underscores the multifaceted and terrifying nature of these supernatural agents of divine wrath, highlighting their comprehensive ability to cause suffering upon an unrepentant humanity.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: This verse is an integral part of the detailed description of the Sixth Trumpet judgment, found in Revelation 9:13-21. Following the release of four angels bound at the great river Euphrates, an immense army of 200 million horsemen is unleashed. The preceding verses (Revelation 9:17-18) describe these horses with heads like lions, from whose mouths issue fire, smoke, and brimstone, killing a third of mankind. Verse 19 then elaborates on an additional, equally terrifying source of their destructive capability: their tails. This progression emphasizes the comprehensive and inescapable nature of the harm inflicted by these supernatural entities, building upon the initial description of their monstrous appearance and primary weapons. The verse serves to heighten the sense of dread and the supernatural horror of this particular judgment, distinguishing these horsemen from any conventional military force.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: The imagery employed in Revelation draws heavily from Old Testament prophetic literature and ancient Near Eastern mythology, which would have been familiar to John's original audience. The concept of monstrous creatures and hybrid beasts was common in apocalyptic visions (e.g., Daniel 7), symbolizing powerful empires or destructive forces. Serpents, in particular, held significant symbolic weight, often associated with deception, evil, and deadly venom, echoing the primordial serpent in Genesis 3. The idea of an army of immense size (200 million) would have been unfathomable in the ancient world, conveying an overwhelming and unstoppable force. The description of power emanating from both front (mouth) and back (tails) might also subtly allude to ancient military tactics where cavalry could attack from multiple directions, but here it is elevated to a supernatural, grotesque level, signifying a complete and inescapable assault beyond human capability.
  • Key Themes: Revelation 9:19 contributes significantly to several major themes within the book of Revelation and broader biblical theology. Foremost is the theme of Divine Judgment, underscoring the severity and unprecedented nature of God's wrath upon an unrepentant world. The graphic and terrifying imagery highlights the intensity of the coming wrath and the consequences of human rebellion against God, a theme consistently present from the opening of the seals through the trumpet judgments, as seen in passages like Revelation 6:16-17. Another prominent theme is Demonic Power and Destruction. The description of power emanating from both "mouth" and "tails" signifies a comprehensive, multi-pronged, and inescapable form of harm, illustrating the devastating capabilities of spiritual evil when permitted by divine decree. The "tails like unto serpents, and had heads" symbolizes a cunning, deadly, and insidious destructive force, reminiscent of ancient symbols of evil and deception, and foreshadowing the ultimate defeat of the "ancient serpent" in Revelation 20:2. Finally, the verse exemplifies the pervasive use of Symbolic Imagery in Revelation. The 'mouth' likely refers to direct, overt, and destructive assaults (like the fire, smoke, and brimstone previously mentioned), while the 'tails' with heads like serpents suggest a secondary, insidious, or unexpected means of attack, perhaps through deception, venomous influence, or a more subtle, yet equally lethal, form of injury. This dual source of power reinforces the complete and inescapable nature of the judgment.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • Power (Greek, exousía', G1849): This word denotes "privilege, i.e. (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely, magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence." In the context of Revelation 9:19, exousía signifies the destructive capability and influence these entities possess. It implies that their ability to cause harm is not inherent but is a delegated authority, permitted by God as part of His unfolding judgments. This highlights divine sovereignty even over the forces of destruction.
  • Tails (Greek, ourá', G3769): This simply means "a tail." However, in this apocalyptic context, the mundane meaning is dramatically transformed. The tails are not merely appendages but are themselves instruments of destruction, possessing serpentine qualities and heads. This unusual description emphasizes the grotesque, unnatural, and supernaturally empowered nature of these creatures, making every part of them a weapon.
  • Serpents (Greek, óphis', G3789): This word refers to "a snake, figuratively, (as a type of sly cunning) an artful malicious person, especially Satan." The comparison of the tails to serpents immediately invokes biblical associations with evil, deception, and deadly venom. This imagery connects the destructive actions of these horsemen to the archetypal enemy, Satan, who is often called "that old serpent" in Revelation, reinforcing the spiritual dimension of the judgment and the malevolent nature of the forces at work.

Verse Breakdown

  • "For their power is in their mouth,": This clause reiterates and emphasizes a primary source of the horsemen's destructive capability, already established in Revelation 9:17-18. The "mouth" is the origin of the fire, smoke, and brimstone that issue forth, causing widespread death. The use of "power" (exousia) here indicates that this destructive capacity is not merely an incidental feature but a core aspect of their delegated authority to inflict harm.
  • "and in their tails:": This introduces a second, equally significant, and perhaps more insidious, source of their destructive ability. The tails are not passive but active instruments of harm, indicating a comprehensive and inescapable assault. This dual source of power underscores the terrifying and supernatural nature of these entities, as they can attack from multiple, unexpected directions.
  • "for their tails [were] like unto serpents,": This simile clarifies the nature of the "tails." They are not ordinary tails but possess characteristics resembling serpents. This comparison immediately evokes biblical symbolism of cunning, deception, and deadly venom, linking the destructive actions of these creatures to the pervasive influence of evil and the ancient adversary. The serpentine quality suggests a more insidious, perhaps less overt, but equally lethal, form of injury.
  • "and had heads,": This detail further intensifies the grotesque and unnatural imagery. The tails are not merely serpent-like in form but possess actual heads, implying that each tail functions as an independent, intelligent, and dangerous entity. This adds to the horror and the multi-faceted nature of their attack, suggesting that even their secondary means of assault are capable of targeted and deliberate harm.
  • "and with them they do hurt.": This final clause explicitly states the purpose and outcome of the power in their tails. The Greek word for "hurt" (adikéō) means to do wrong, to injure, or to act unjustly. It signifies the pain, suffering, and moral offense inflicted upon humanity. This confirms that the tails, with their serpentine heads, are active instruments of injury, contributing directly to the overall devastation caused by this demonic army.

Literary Devices

Revelation 9:19 is rich in Symbolism, which is characteristic of apocalyptic literature. The "mouth" represents overt, direct destruction, while the "tails like unto serpents, and had heads" symbolize insidious, deceptive, and multi-faceted harm. The serpent imagery itself is deeply symbolic, recalling the Archetypal Evil of Satan in Genesis 3. The description also employs Zoomorphism and Chimerism, blending animal features (horses with lion heads, serpent tails with heads) to create monstrous, supernatural beings that defy natural order, emphasizing their otherworldly and terrifying nature. This grotesque imagery serves as a form of Hyperbole and Apocalyptic Imagery, exaggerating the destructive power to convey the intensity and unprecedented nature of God's judgment. The dual source of power (mouth and tails) also creates a sense of Total Envelopment or comprehensive assault, implying that no aspect of these creatures is benign, and all parts are instruments of divine wrath.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Revelation 9:19, with its vivid and unsettling imagery, powerfully underscores the reality of divine judgment and the devastating consequences of human unrepentance. It portrays a world under the direct, severe hand of God, where even supernatural forces are marshaled as instruments of His righteous wrath. The description of power emanating from both the mouth and the tails, particularly the serpentine nature of the tails with heads, carries profound theological weight. It not only highlights the physical destruction but also alludes to the spiritual dimension of evil, recalling the ancient serpent's role in deception and death. This passage serves as a stark reminder that God is sovereign, even over the forces of chaos and destruction, and that His ultimate purpose is to bring about justice and call humanity to repentance before the final consummation of His kingdom.

  • Genesis 3:1-15 - The serpent's deception and the curse, establishing the archetypal enemy.
  • Ephesians 6:12 - The reality of spiritual warfare against "principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
  • Revelation 12:9 - Identifies Satan as "that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world."

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

The terrifying imagery of Revelation 9:19, while challenging to interpret, serves as a profound call to spiritual vigilance and a sober reflection on the nature of divine judgment. It reminds us that there are forces of spiritual evil at work in the world, capable of inflicting deep and multifaceted harm, whether through overt destruction or insidious deception. For believers, this passage should not incite fear, but rather a renewed sense of urgency in living a life devoted to Christ and standing firm in His truth. It underscores the importance of being spiritually discerning, recognizing that evil can manifest in unexpected ways, even through seemingly secondary means. Ultimately, the severity of these judgments in Revelation is intended to awaken humanity to its need for repentance and to turn to God. For those who have placed their faith in Christ, this passage reinforces the security of their salvation, knowing that they are delivered from the wrath to come, and encourages them to share the hope of the Gospel with a world in need of redemption.

Questions for Reflection

  • How does the dual source of power (mouth and tails) in Revelation 9:19 challenge your understanding of spiritual warfare and the ways evil can operate?
  • In what ways might the "serpent-like" nature of the tails with heads symbolize insidious forms of harm or deception in our contemporary world?
  • How does the sovereignty of God over even these destructive forces (as implied by "delegated power") bring comfort or challenge to your faith?
  • What is the ultimate purpose of such terrifying judgment descriptions in Scripture, and how should they motivate believers today?

FAQ

Are the creatures described in Revelation 9:19 literal or symbolic?

Answer: The interpretation of the creatures in Revelation 9:19, like much of apocalyptic literature, is debated among scholars. Some interpret them literally as actual monstrous beings that will appear during the end times, emphasizing the concrete nature of God's judgments. Others view them primarily as symbolic representations of destructive forces, whether human armies empowered by demonic influence, or spiritual powers themselves, which inflict harm through various means (e.g., war, deception, false ideologies). Given the highly symbolic nature of Revelation as a whole, and the use of chimerical imagery that defies natural biology (horses with lion heads, tails with serpent heads), a symbolic interpretation is often favored. Regardless of whether they are literal or symbolic, the passage conveys the reality of powerful, destructive forces unleashed as part of divine judgment, emphasizing their terrifying nature and the comprehensive harm they inflict.

How does the imagery of "tails like unto serpents, and had heads" connect to other biblical themes?

Answer: This imagery carries significant biblical resonance. The "serpent" is a potent symbol throughout Scripture, most notably in Genesis 3:1, where the serpent deceives Eve and brings sin into the world. This primordial serpent is later identified as Satan himself in Revelation 12:9. Therefore, the "tails like unto serpents, and had heads" in Revelation 9:19 strongly connects the destructive actions of these demonic horsemen to the archetypal evil of Satan. It suggests that their methods of inflicting "hurt" are not just brute force but also involve cunning, deception, and a venomous, insidious quality, reflecting the very nature of the enemy of God and humanity. This connection underscores the spiritual dimension of the judgment and the malevolent intelligence behind the destruction.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

While Revelation 9:19 describes terrifying instruments of divine judgment, its Christ-centered fulfillment is found not in the direct actions of these destructive creatures, but in how Christ ultimately triumphs over all such forces and offers salvation from the wrath they represent. The "power" (exousia) unleashed by these entities, though delegated for judgment, is ultimately subservient to the supreme authority of Christ, who holds "the keys of hell and of death" (Revelation 1:18). The serpentine imagery of the tails, reminiscent of the ancient serpent, points to the very adversary whose head was promised to be crushed by the seed of the woman in Genesis 3:15. Jesus, the true Seed, definitively triumphed over Satan and the powers of darkness through His death and resurrection, disarming them and making a public spectacle of them (Colossians 2:15). Therefore, while these judgments are poured out on an unrepentant world, believers in Christ are spared from this wrath, having been justified by His blood and reconciled to God (Romans 5:9-10). Christ is not only the Lamb who was slain to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29) but also the conquering King who will ultimately judge all evil and establish His eternal reign, ensuring that no power, whether from mouth or tail, can ultimately harm those who are found in Him (Romans 8:38-39).

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Commentary on Revelation 9 verses 13–21

Here let us consider the preface to this vision, and then the vision itself.

I. The preface to this vision: A voice was heard from the horns of the golden altar, Rev 9:13, Rev 9:14. Here observe, 1. The power of the church's enemies is restrained till God gives the word to have them turned loose. 2. When nations are ripe for punishment, those instruments of God's anger that were before restrained are let loose upon them, Rev 9:14. 3. The instruments that God makes use of to punish a people may sometimes lie at a great distance from them, so that no danger may be apprehended from them. These four messengers of divine judgment lay bound in the river Euphrates, a great way from the European nations. Here the Turkish power had its rise, which seems to be the story of this vision.

II. The vision itself: And the four angels that had been bound in the great river Euphrates were now loosed, Rev 9:15, Rev 9:16. And here observe, 1. The time of their military operations and executions is limited to an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year. Prophetic characters of time are hardly to be understood by us; but in general the time is fixed to an hour, when it shall begin and when it shall end; and how far the execution shall prevail, even to a third part of the inhabitants of the earth. God will make the wrath of man praise him, and the remainder of wrath he will restrain. 2. The army that was to execute this great commission is mustered, and the number found to be of horsemen two hundred thousand thousand; but we are left to guess what the infantry must be. In general, it tells us, the armies of the Mahomedan empire should be vastly great; and so it is certain they were. 3. Their formidable equipage and appearance, Rev 9:17. As the horses were fierce, like lions, and eager to rush into the battle, so those who sat upon them were clad in bright and costly armour, with all the ensigns of martial courage, zeal, and resolution. 4. The vast havoc and desolation that they made in the Roman empire, which had now become antichristian: A third part of them were killed; they went as far as their commission suffered them, and they could go no further. 5. Their artillery, by which they made such slaughter, described by fire, smoke, and brimstone, issuing out of the mouths of their horses, and the stings that were in their tails. It is Mr. Mede's opinion that this is a prediction of great guns, those instruments of cruelty which make such destruction: he observes, These were first used by the Turks at the siege of Constantinople, and, being new and strange, were very terrible, and did great execution. However, here seems to be an allusion to what is mentioned in the former vision, that, as antichrist had his forces of a spiritual nature, like scorpions poisoning the minds of men with error and idolatry, so the Turks, who were raised up to punish the antichristian apostasy, had their scorpions and their stings too, to hurt and kill the bodies of those who had been the murderers of so many souls. 6. Observe the impenitency of the antichristian generation under these dreadful judgments (Rev 9:20); the rest of the men who were not killed repented not, they still persisted in those sins for which God was so severely punishing them, which were, (1.) Their idolatry; they would not cast away their images, though they could do them no good, could not see, nor hear, nor walk. (2.) Their murders (Rev 9:21), which they had committed upon the saints and servants of Christ. Popery is a bloody religion, and seems resolved to continue such. (3.) Their sorceries; they have their charms, and magic arts, and rites in exorcism and other things. (4.) Their fornication; they allow both spiritual and carnal impurity, and promote it in themselves and others. (5.) Their thefts; they have by unjust means heaped together a vast deal of wealth, to the injury and impoverishing of families, cities, princes, and nations. These are the flagrant crimes of antichrist and his agents; and, though God has revealed his wrath from heaven against them, they are obstinate, hardened, and impenitent, and judicially so, for they must be destroyed.

III. From this sixth trumpet we learn, 1. God can make one enemy of the church to be a scourge and plague to another. 2. He who is the Lord of hosts has vast armies at his command, to serve his own purposes. 3. The most formidable powers have limits set them, which they cannot transgress. 4. When God's judgments are in the earth, he expects the inhabitants thereof should repent of sin, and learn righteousness. 5. Impenitency under divine judgments is an iniquity that will be the ruin of sinners; for where God judges he will overcome.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 13–21. Public domain.
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Caesarius of ArlesAD 542
EXPOSITION ON THE APOCALYPSE 9:18-19, HOMILY 7
[The smoke, fire, and sulphur from their mouths] are the blasphemies that proceed from their mouths against God. “Their tails are like serpents.” The leaders [of the heretics] we call “tails,” and the rulers of the world we call “heads.” It is through these that the devil does his harm, and without these he is not able to do harm. For either irreligious kings do harm by an evil exercise of authority, or worldly prelates do harm by teaching badly.
Andreas of CaesareaAD 614
COMMENTARY ON THE APOCALYPSE 9:17-19
“The fire that proceeds with smoke and sulfur from their mouths,” through which one third of humankind is killed, signifies those sins that consume the fruits of the heart by means of the poisonous assaults and instigations of the demons. Or the fire signifies the devastation of cities by fire and by the shedding of blood, which God allows to be done through the hands of the barbarians.
BedeAD 735
Commentary on Revelation
For the power of the horses is in their mouths, and in their tails. That is, in speech and in action; for the prophet teaching lies, he is the tail. Who covers in a certain way the blind and unclean part with the volubility of a flattering tongue, saying to the wicked: You are good.
BedeAD 735
Commentary on Revelation
For their tails are like serpents, etc. False teachers, like the ancient serpent who deceived man, supported by the patronage of rulers, harm more than if they persuaded only by speech. He sits, he says, in ambush with the rich (Ps. X).
Alcuin of YorkAD 804
COMMENTARY ON REVELATION
The power of the horses is in their mouths, and in their tails. By the mouth is represented the knowledge of teachers, and by the tail, which should be placed behind, temporal power. So their power is in their mouths and tails because their way of preaching is to persuade people of wrong things; but as they are sustained by temporal powers, they are exalted through the things that are behind. For their tails are like to serpents, and have heads: and with them they hurt. Here, inversely, wicked teachers are represented by the tails, and secular power by the heads. It is fitting to say that bad preachers are like serpents, because it is with the voice of the one whose hiss Eve was allured by that they advise bad things. Since it is with the support of powerful people that they violently bring many people to do forbidden things, it is right to say that they have heads, which, according to another translation, are called dragons' heads. Then, in order to show that the Gentiles also belong to this body, he said after that, And the rest of the men, who are not, and did not do penance from the works of their hands, that they should not adore devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and wood, which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: and did not do penance from their murders, nor from their fornication, nor from their thefts, as if he were saying, “People of this kind also seem to belong to the aforementioned number.” Whereas throughout the other prophecies we find a great many things that correspond to our Mediator symbolized by earthly things and few by heavenly things, in this prophecy John has quite often represented his coming by an angel. To what end, if not to show that this prophecy is richer than others? Whence it is now said:
OecumeniusAD 990
Commentary on Revelation
Then the vision varies and exalts the power of the holy angels, warning against "lions" and "fire", "smoke" and divine beings and serpents, through all of which their terrible and incredible nature is signified.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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